"…and so I'm leaving it up to you all to decide whether we're going to take this job or not. We all have to be in accordance to agree to take this job. No way I'm making anybody go back there after all the blood, sweat and tears we have been through. So what's everybody's thoughts?" Mal finished. A moment of complete silence as the nature of exactly what the offer entailed sunk in. Flying back to Miranda. Hunting down Reavers and killing one in particular before a whole swarm of nasties could kill them first. Yeah, easy as lying. Laying dead that is. The room erupted into noise and exclamations.

"You can't seriously be entertaining this suicidal thought Mal? Are you completely out of your mind?" Inara shrieked.

"Captain, what about Wash? Wash…he…we… can't…"Kaylee begged, turning to look at Zoe who sat calm and composed among a sea of turmoil.

"Ain't no goramm ruttin' way…"

"nee mun doh bee-jway!" Mal interjected cutting Jayne off and silencing the rest of the room.

"Excuse me Captain Reynolds, but if I may? Could I address the crew for my own sake so I can at least feel as though I tried my best to help my brother?" Dr. Wyman implored.

"Have your words Doc, I think the only good you'll get out of it is some exercise for your lungs but have a go at it." Mal offered.

Gathering himself from the chair, Dr. Wyman summoned his courage as he began.

"I am not one to go throwing myself on other people's mercy and good will, but in this case I have no other choice than to beg for your assistance. My brother is all the family I have left and we were supposed too keep an eye out for each other. Two brothers against the 'verse, or so we thought when we were younger. I'm sure some of you can relate to that." Simon looked uncomfortably at River. "We are both just lost souls now, his which is trapped and must be released from its hell before I can ever be at peace. Somehow I know a little part of my irritating little brother is still trapped in that horrible corruption of his body and I can not live with the guilt that it was my fault he was ever in a position for that to happen. I am the one who is supposed to be responsible for him and to take care of him, even in the state he is now. Nobody else would. I can't allow whatever remnant of my brother which may yet be conscious of his actions but is powerless to stop them be held hostage as a Reaver. I can never leave him like that, never. Here I am on my knees before you begging. If you don't help me there is no other ship which can. Refuse me if you like, just if you do, please finish my miserable life off before you ship out. I'm already dead so if you would just make it a formality… Please, I beseech you, help us. My brother and I have no where else to turn." He implored as tears traced channels down his cheeks to gather trembling at his chin.

"Ahh… well at the expense of being exiled and harassed by the entire crew, I have to admit that I at least understand what he seeks. I am the last person to comment on the lengths someone would go to protect a sibling, although I don't know what I would do if I had to face the same choice as Dr. Wyman." Simon said turning to look at River as she looked back somberly at him as well. Kaylee, gazing at Simon with love and admiration, silently leaned over to lend her support to him. Inara stared with disbelief at Simon, Kaylee and River. Looking across the table her eyes landed on Zoe sitting silently by herself. "Zoe, you have to stop this madness, last time we didn't know just how bad it really would be that we were heading into and we lost Wash as a result of that. Who expects us to willingly go back to that hell knowing in entirety just how bad it will be this time? Nobody wants…"

"Inara you have no idea what it is that I want. Reavers stole my husband from me, Reavers stole his brother from him. I think it is time that I even some matters which have gone unsettled between myself and those wang bao dahn..."

"Wait, Zoe you actually want to take this job? Mal asked with incredulity.

"Yes Sir, that I do. While I would like nothing better than having Wash back, but seeing as that is not an option this is the next best option."

"Oh Zoe, I'm so sorry. I never would have thought…" Inara added softly, quietly fading off. An awkward silence fell only to be punctuated by a gravelly voice,

"Hell, Mal don't worry 'bout me. There's no way I'm gonna go all soft over a coupla salty crocodile tears shed over lost brotherly love. Long as you pay me right up on some other cushy job I ain't one to risk my neck over a lil' bit of fuzzy sappiness. 'specially one with goramm Reavers" Jayne grumbled.

"Speaking of payment, I don't believe I ever gave you my estimated reparations to compensate you and your crew for your invaluable services. Should you decide to take my offer." Dr. Wyman reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a slip of paper and handed it to Mal.

"I think this would be an entirely fair offer. Mind you that is only the final cash payment, I also would pay for all needed supplies and equipment or weapons you deem necessary to also prepare for the job." Mal looked at the slip and then passed it around the table.

"Nuh-uh, like I said Mal, no goramm ruttin' way. This is Reavers he's talking about. Reavers." Jayne bellowed as Zoe passed the slip to him.

"Whatever the crew's cut is on jobs is I think this would be very satisfactory for everyone" Wyman offered as Jayne, still bellowing began to read the slip.

"No goramm ruttin' way…no gora…wait…10 percent of…7…10…12…wait…now how many zeros?..." He read with a look of intense concentration, then abruptly looked up,

"I'm in."

"Is that how it is gonna be? Mal questioned. "Nobody here has the sense to avoid this deal like the plague?" When nobody answered him he turned to face his crew. Mal was greeted only by the steely eyes of his first mate while the rest refused to answer his glaze of utter confusion, Mal sighed,

"Well Dr. Wyman, looks like you just booked yourself on the deadliest trip with the dumbest crew in the 'verse."

A grin of pure ecstasy broke across the Wyman's face as he stumbled over his own words to thank the Captain and crew.

"Now just be remembering this later when you're bein' skinned alive by your brother. You asked for this and was grateful."

"Oh no Captain Reynolds, whatever happens, this is exactly what I wanted" he cried. In the background Mal heard Jayne lean over and ask Zoe.

"So are we gonna get paid in cash before we leave or after? There's a couple of things in town I'd wanna be seein' to before we leave. Plus unless the crazy Doc's got that cash hidden somewhere deep and recessed on that body of his it's sorta hard to get cash of that amount off of a stiff."